Today on Upstream, we’re airing Erik Torenberg’s conversation with Jon Askonas. They explore the emerging coalition between MAGA supporters and Silicon Valley tech leaders, examines the underlying political realignment, the tensions and fault lines within this coalition, and the potential future conflicts surrounding issues like immigration and transhumanism.

This episode originally aired on Moment Zen (February 22, 2025)

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Moment of Zen

Every week, Erik Torenbergand frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15KYOzvDzAQvqX0z0SpHEJ 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-of-zen/id1661672738

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SPONSORS:

☁️Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at https://oracle.com/turpentine 

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💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

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LINKS:

Ezra Klein on Supply-side Progressivism, Polarization, and What Silicon Valley Misses About Politics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1vBO8SYvto 

The Future of Crypto with Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQdaQr3EW8g 

Tech for Trump:  https://www.city-journal.org/article/tech-for-trump

The New Control Society: https://www.thenewatlantis.com/publications/the-new-control-society

—

X / TWITTER:

@JonAskonas

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Silicon Valley has experienced a significant shift away from Democrats, visually demonstrated by tech CEOs like Nadella, Pichai, Bezos, and Zuckerberg attending Trump's inauguration.
• The tech elite was historically one of the most entrenched parts of the Democratic coalition from the Clinton era through the Obama administration.
• COVID enabled tech to be publicly anti-left due to perceived governance incompetence, with figures like Mike Solana leading criticism of San Francisco's policies.
• Brian Armstrong's "no politics at Coinbase" stance marked a controversial turning point, though it wasn't explicitly right-wing.
• The new right coalition consists of three pillars: the Tech Right (elite talent and donors), MAGA (America First policies), and MAHA (Make America Healthy Again).
• What unites this coalition is an "existential fight with the Cathedral" - targeting establishment institutions rather than protecting existing systems.
• Immigration represents a major fault line, with tech generally being pro-immigration while the MAGA base is restrictionist.
• Transhumanism and biotechnology create tension between tech enthusiasm for innovation versus MAGA/MAHA skepticism about "messing with natural biology."
• Democrats are struggling with post-election analysis, focusing on messaging rather than substance.
• Trump's approach differs from previous Republicans by focusing on destroying rather than reforming institutions.
• Many of Trump's most controversial positions were actually Democratic positions in the 1990s.

Today on Upstream, we’re releasing Patrick MacKenzie's interview with Azeem Azhar which originally aired in February 2025 on Complex Systems. They discuss the economics and infrastructure of data centers, comparing historical infrastructure rollouts to modern AI-driven data center needs, and explore the implications of exponential power demands, including innovations like small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal energy.

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Complex Systems with Patrick McKenzie

Patrick McKenzie (@patio11) talks to experts who understand the complicated but not unknowable systems we rely on. You might be surprised at how quickly Patrick and his guests can put you in the top 1% of understanding for stock trading, tech hiring, and more.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mos4VE3figVXleHDqfXOH 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/complex-systems-with-patrick-mckenzie-patio11/id1753399812

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SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

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💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

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LINKS:

Exponential View: https://www.exponentialview.co/

OpenAI Hails $500 Billion Stargate Plan: 'More Compute Leads to Better Models': https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp500-nasdaq-live-01-22-2025/card/openai-to-release-new-gpt-model-ai-agents-soon-MrUYupSuChEdJh07oIWp 

Byrne Hobart’s ‘Boom: Bubbles and the End of Stagnatiom’: https://www.amazon.com/Boom-Bubbles-Stagnation-Byrne-Hobart/dp/1953953476 

Inside the World's Largest AI Supercluster xAI Colossus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf8EPSBZU7Y&t=142s 

Leopold Aschenbrenner’s SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: The Decade Ahead: https://situational-awareness.ai/ 

Dave Kasten’s The Essay Meta: https://davekasten.substack.com/p/welcome-to-the-essay-meta 

Travis Dauwalter’s Complex Systems episode: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/episodes/electricity-grids-travis-dauwalter/ 

Austin Vernon (Fracking) Complex Systems: https://www.complexsystemspodcast.com/episodes/fracking-austin-vernon/ 

Project InnerSpace Resources: https://projectinnerspace.org/resources/ 

Bloom Filters Explained: https://systemdesign.one/bloom-filters-explained/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@azeem

@patio11

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

Today on Upstream, Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg dive into the wide-ranging effects of technological change on media and society. They cover the AI debate, blogging's social impact, AI's influence on search and data, the changing news industry, foreign aid cuts, and the rise of new tech elites.

This episode originally aired on The Riff (March 11, 2025).

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Investor and writer of the popular newsletter The Diff, Byrne Hobart, and co-host Erik Torenberg discuss today’s major inflection points in technology, business, and markets – and help listeners build a diversified portfolio of trends and ideas for the future. 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-riff-with-byrne-hobart-and-erik-torenberg/id1716646486 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rANlV54GCARLgMOtpkzKt 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRiffPodcast

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SPONSORS:

☁️Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

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LINKS:

Byrne’s writing: https://thediff.co 

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X / TWITTER:

@byrnehobart 

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• AI's impact on written content is overstated despite its technical achievements.
• The social adjustment to blogging was more disruptive than our current adjustment to AI-generated content.
• Traditional media eventually incorporated blogging and adapted to different publishing cadences.
• "Real news" remains the least lucrative part of the news business.
• Media outlets drive partisan narratives through topic selection, not just content framing.
• Readers generally don't want nuanced views that might challenge their existing beliefs.
• Bezos positioned the Washington Post to serve growth-oriented progressives and non-Trumpist conservatives.
• Elon Musk's "Doge" review of USAID may use a strategy of cutting drastically then restoring essential services.
• Programs like PEPFAR (AIDS relief) have extremely high returns on investment that shouldn't be overlooked.
• US military spending could be viewed as a form of foreign aid by preventing global conflicts.
• Karp critiques tech for excelling at "delivering delightful trivialities" but neglecting serious national challenges.
• Silicon Valley has shifted from "atheist libertarianism" to more nationalist viewpoints.
• Companies like Palantir represent a public-private synthesis of government capability.
• Tech companies had anti-establishment cultures when small but now are the establishment themselves.
• Education polarization has strongly influenced political alignments in the tech industry.
• When outsiders become insiders, they need to adopt more pragmatic governance approaches.

Today on Upstream, we’re releasing an episode from Modern Relationships which originally aired on February 28, 2025 where Erik Torenberg interviews philosophy professors Agnes Callard and Arnold Brooks about their unconventional marriage, the role of philosophy in their relationship, the impact of their public profile, and how they balance personal and philosophical life together.

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

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SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

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LINKS:

New Yorker article on Agnes and Arnold, by Rachel Aviv: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/03/13/agnes-callard-profile-marriage-philosophy

Agnes Callard: https://philosophy.uchicago.edu/faculty/a-callard

Arnold Brooks: https://philosophy.uchicago.edu/arnold-brooks 

Pre-order Agnes Callard's new book Open Socrates: https://wwnorton.com/books/open-socrates 

Agnes Callard on Upstream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JotaCsaG3Y 

—

X / TWITTER:

@AgnesCallard

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Agnes Callard and Arnold Brooks are philosophy professors at University of Chicago who met when she was his teacher, leading to her divorce from Ben and marriage to Arnold.
• Agnes was initially attracted to Arnold's remarkable ability to interpret Aristotle, which she considered more impressive than conventional attractive qualities.
• Arnold was drawn to Agnes as a "fellow philosopher" in a specific way he hadn't experienced with anyone else before.
• Their philosophical disagreement centers on whether marriage is something achievable to build upon (Arnold's view) or an indefinite pursuit toward an ideal that may be beyond reach (Agnes's view).
• Agnes provocatively stated "marriage is a preparation for divorce" - not meaning marriages should end, but that relationships require navigating difficult circumstances.
• They maintain an unusual living arrangement where Agnes, Arnold, and her ex-husband Ben all live together and co-parent.
• Arnold says his primary attraction is simply witnessing Agnes's way of living, which doesn't require reciprocation.
• They caution against basing relationships solely on reciprocal goods (I support you, you support me).
• Their approach to raising "interesting" children involves asking them abstract questions rather than concrete ones.
• Their New Yorker profile brought public attention that Agnes believes says more about readers' fascination than about their actual relationship.

Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the limitations of populist politics, the difficulty populists face in effecting change despite electoral wins, and the influence of digital democracy on modern governance.

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188   

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja  

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SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

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LINKS:

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

—

X / TWITTER:

@samoburja

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Populists win elections but struggle to govern effectively against entrenched bureaucracies.
• Modern populism confronts administrative states, unlike historical populism that opposed monarchies.
• The administrative state was ironically strengthened by early 20th century populist movements.
• Case studies (Hungary, Brexit) show winning elections doesn't guarantee successful implementation.
• Trump faces resistance from within the Republican Party, limiting his appointment power.
• Elon Musk and X.com provide Trump stronger tools than he had in 2016.
• Left populism offers direct benefits while right populism promises protection from threats.
• Samo suggests tech elites could pool money to counter traditional Republican donors' influence.
• Future Democratic success may come from candidates combining progressive policies with family-oriented messaging.
• Populism emerged through internet's bypass of traditional media gatekeepers.
• Western democracies need a new balance between populist movements and administrative institutions.

In this Upstream episode, Erik Torenberg sits down with military historian Victor Davis Hanson. They discuss the future of Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, the evolution of the American left, and Donald Trump's potential future legacy. 

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📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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SPONSORS:

☁️Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

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LINKS:

Official site: https://victorhanson.com/  

The Victor Davis Hanson podcast: https://victorhanson.com/podcasts/  

Hoover Institution - featured publications and videos: https://www.hoover.org/profiles/victor-davis-hanson 

Erik's substack: https://eriktorenberg.substack.com/ 

—

X / TWITTER:

@VDHanson

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Trump's second term will likely be less chaotic due to appointees who align with his agenda.
• The Republican party is now more unified without "Never Trumpers."
• Trump expanded his coalition by winning significant portions of Hispanic and Black male votes.
• JD Vance is positioned as a strong 2028 candidate due to his background and communication skills.
• Europe will likely move politically rightward due to economic and defense inadequacies.
• Germany maintains trade surpluses while not meeting NATO defense spending requirements.
• The US-European relationship has become unbalanced with Europeans criticizing while depending on American defense.
• The Ukraine-Russia conflict will likely end with a DMZ rather than Ukraine reclaiming all territory.
• Putin invaded Ukraine because he perceived weakness in US leadership.
• Western interference in Ukrainian politics contributed to tensions.
• Trump's peace plan includes strategic investment in Ukrainian minerals near the DMZ.
• There's inconsistency in how the US approaches Ukraine versus Israel regarding civilian casualties.
• China is less likely to invade Taiwan compared to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• Pacific allies are actively rearming against Chinese threats.
• New warfare technologies like drones may prove more effective for Taiwan's defense than traditional carriers.
• Israel struggles to convert tactical victories into strategic resolution.
• "Abraham Accords" allies have complex motivations including concerns about Iran.
• Western democracies struggle with asymmetric warfare and maintaining resolve for definitive victory.
• Democrats should return to Clinton-era policies on borders, crime, and budgets.
• Democrats are controlled by a hard left with positions only 20% of Americans support.
• Trump is transforming American politics from race-based to class-based coalition building.
• Republicans are becoming "the party of the middle class" while Democrats represent coastal elites and the subsidized poor.

In this episode of Upstream, we’re releasing Erik Torenberg’s interview from 2023 with Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of Wired Magazine, discussing Kevin’s new advice book, the impact of gratitude, and how technology, especially AI, interacts with and shapes human existence and culture.

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🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️ Second Opinion

Join Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz and Luba Greenwood as they bring influential entrepreneurs, experts and investors into the ring for candid conversations at the frontlines of healthcare and digital health every week.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A8NwQE976s32zdBbZw6bv 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/second-opinion-with-christina-farr-ash-zenooz-md-luba/id1759267211 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SecondOpinionwithChristinaFarr

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SPONSORS:

☁️Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

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LINKS:

Kevin Kelly's book: Excellent Advice for Living: https://www.amazon.com/Excellent-Advice-Living-Wisdom-Earlier/dp/0593654528 

—

X / TWITTER:

@kevin2kelly

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Kevin Kelly published an advice book featuring "telegraphic aphorisms" rather than stories, which better suits his style.
• Kevin believes gratitude unlocks all virtues by connecting us to others through recognizing what we've been given.
• Emotional responses work faster than logical thinking, which is why people remember how you made them feel more than what you said.
• Reflecting on what irritates you in others can provide valuable insight into understanding yourself.
• Humans are "opaque to themselves," lacking clear understanding of their own minds and motivations.
• Kevin disputes overpopulation concerns, warning instead about future population collapse.
• According to Kelly, the joy of having children compounds, and he's never met anyone who regretted having more children.
• Kevin views speciation of humans as more likely to come through genetic engineering than cyborg technology.
• Kevin dismisses rapid AI takeover fears as "comic book fantasy," arguing that intelligence alone doesn't guarantee dominance.
• The concept of "we've invented our humanity" refers to language, cooking, domestication, and other technologies that shaped human evolution.
• Kevin predicts AI will help us understand our own intelligence better, forcing us to reconsider concepts like creativity.
• Most effective systems combine mostly decentralized elements with small amounts of centralized control.
• Silicon Valley's contribution to culture includes "demoralizing failure" – reframing it as a necessary component of progress.
• Small, managed failures prevent catastrophic ones and should be viewed as learning experiences.
• Kelly embraces the concept of "fail forward" – treating failures as stepping stones rather than endpoints.

This week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the widespread interest in U.S. politics and its global influence, particularly in Western and European countries, the internet's role in synchronizing political and cultural norms, and potential changes in European political landscapes influenced by American ideologies and media.

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📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188   

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja 

🎙️ Second Opinion

Join Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz and Luba Greenwood as they bring influential entrepreneurs, experts and investors into the ring for candid conversations at the frontlines of healthcare and digital health every week.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A8NwQE976s32zdBbZw6bv 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/second-opinion-with-christina-farr-ash-zenooz-md-luba/id1759267211 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SecondOpinionwithChristinaFarr

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

—

LINKS:

Two buttons meme: https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.2365085899.3351/st,small,507x507-pad,600x600,f8f8f8.jpg 

The Clash of Civilizations: https://www.amazon.com/Clash-Civilizations-Remaking-World-Order/dp/1451628978 

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

—

X / TWITTER:

@SamoBurja

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

Erik Torenberg interviews Harley Finkelstein, president of Shopify, discussing tariffs, political shifts, Shopify's earnings, and the evolution of entrepreneurship.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

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RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

SPONSORS:

☁️Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

—

LINKS:

Shopify: https://www.shopify.com/

Firebelly Tea: https://www.firebellytea.com/

Big Shot Podcast: https://www.bigshot.show/

Shopify president on e-commerce trends, impact of tariffs and state of the consumer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si_j0P0DPM4 

 World's First Podcast: https://linktr.ee/worldsfirstpodcast 

 Nobody Wants This (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/title/81591296 

—

X / TWITTER:

@harleyf

@Shopify

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

•  Harley views tariffs as adding unnecessary complexity to entrepreneurship.
• Shopify advocates for streamlining business creation processes.
• Not every business needs external funding to succeed.
• Shopify Capital helps merchants who can't access traditional funding.
• Harley's Big Shot podcast archives stories of successful Jewish entrepreneurs.
• A common theme across entrepreneur interviews is crediting spouses for success.
• October 7th strengthened Harley's connection to his Jewish identity.
• Harley employs different mentors for different aspects of life.
• Montreal's culture celebrates entrepreneurs as cultural heroes.
• Commonwealth countries suffer from "tall poppy syndrome" that discourages standing out.
• 2024 was Shopify's strongest year with nearly $300 billion in GMV.
• International merchants now represent 50% of Shopify's user base.
• Post-omnichannel commerce focuses on selling in places most relevant to specific customers.
• Content, entertainment, and commerce are increasingly blending for successful brands.
• Shopify takes a practical approach to AI implementation across its platform.
• AI features include generated replies, media editing, and business coaching.
• Shopify created dual career tracks: management and "crafters" (individual contributors).
• The "Mastery" program enables promotions while staying focused on craft expertise.
• Shopify operates "digital by design" - primarily remote with intentional gatherings.
• Leadership team members are distributed across multiple geographic locations.
• The company uses "tours of duty" - three-year commitments with deliberate check-ins.
• Employees must grow at a rate equal to or greater than the company's growth.

Marc Andreessen and Erik Torenberg discuss the ongoing political and cultural shift in America, covering topics such as preference falsification, the role of DEI in tech and other sectors, the influence of group chats, and the emerging dynamic in politics with highly capable appointments in the new administration.

—

📰Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS:

🎙️Moment of Zen

Every week, Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez and frequent special guests discuss what's happening in technology, business, politics, and beyond.

Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15KYOzvDzAQvqX0z0SpHEJ 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moment-of-zen/id1661672738

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

—

LINKS:

"Private Truth, Public Lies" by Timur Kuran: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674707580 

"The Power of the Powerless" by Václav Havel: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Powerless-Vaclav-Havel/dp/178487504X 

"Why are Jews Liberal" by Norman Podhoretz: https://www.amazon.com/Why-Jews-Liberals-Norman-Podhoretz/dp/0307456250 

"Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand: https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Shrugged-Ayn-Rand/dp/0451191145 

Pew Research Survey: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/03/15/americans-feel-more-positive-than-negative-about-jews-mainline-protestants-catholics/

— 

X / TWITTER:

@pmarca

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia

—

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

• Commerce Secretary now advocates for out-innovating China, marking a complete reversal.
• "Preference falsification" in American society is starting to unwind.
• The 2014 Mozilla CEO cancellation became a template for future tech industry purges.
• "Woke" ideology is declining culturally but remains embedded in institutions.
• Private messaging groups became modern samizdat for honest communication.
• Cultural shifts start in San Francisco and spread outward with predictable delays.
• October 7th caused major Jewish American political realignment.
• Evangelical Christians show strong support for Jews despite opposite sentiment in return.
• New administration appointments show exceptional quality compared to historical standards.
• Government blocked innovation in physical things, then tried to restrict digital innovation.
• European regulations are forcing global tech compliance.
• New administration combines experienced staffers with high-caliber outsiders.

This week on Upstream, Erik Torenberg and Samo Burja discuss the economic, political, and cultural implications of colonizing Mars and the Moon, discussing space treaties, potential Martian and Earth societal divergence, and the technological advancements driving humanity's future as a multi-planetary species.

—

📰 Be notified early when Turpentine's drops new publication: https://www.turpentine.co/exclusiveaccess 

🙏 Help shape our show by taking our quick listener survey at https://bit.ly/TurpentinePulse 

—

RECOMMENDED PODCASTS: 

🎙️Live Players

Samo Burja and Erik Torenberg provide analysis of the news and case studies of Live Players, as well as key institutions and technologies that make up the global power landscape.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-players-with-samo-burja-and-erik-torenberg/id1718925188   

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5fbMTkHBnom1JIBWYNVBK1?si=01ed191c74264f55  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivePlayerswithSamoBurja

🎙️Check out Modern Relationships, where Erik Torenberg interviews tech power couples and leading thinkers to explore how ambitious people actually make partnerships work. This season's guests include: Delian Asparouhov & Nadia Asparouhova, Kristen Berman & Phil Levin, Rob Henderson, and Liv Boeree & Igor Kurganov.

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1786227593 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hJzs0gDg6lRT6r10mdpVg 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernRelationshipsPod 

—

SPONSORS:

☁️ Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is a single platform for your infrastructure, database, application development, and AI needs. OCI has four to eight times the bandwidth of other clouds and offers one consistent price. Oracle is offering to cut your cloud bill in half. See if your company qualifies at oracle.com/turpentine 

🎯 Say goodbye to the headaches of out-of-home advertising. AdQuick combines technology, OOH expertise, and data to enable efficient, seamless ad buying across the globe. Visit adquick.com to start reaching your customers in the real world.

🕵️‍♂️ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code UPSTREAM at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/upstream

💥 Head to Squad to access global engineering without the headache and at a fraction of the cost: head to https://choosesquad.com/  and mention “Turpentine” to skip the waitlist.

—

LINKS:

Starship: https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/starship/ 

(Pirate Wars) Moon Should Be a State: https://www.piratewires.com/p/moon-should-be-a-state 

Artemis: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis/ 

SLS: https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/space-launch-system/ 

Boom Supersonic:https://boomsupersonic.com/

Blue Origin: https://www.blueorigin.com/ 

Referenced Live Players episodes:

The Turbulence of Boeing: Decline and Future Prospects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1pmCK6CrK4 

The Technology That Can Reshape Nations (Desalination): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_gEHhSXECs 

Bismark Analysis: https://brief.bismarckanalysis.com/

—

X / TWITTER:

@samoburja

@eriktorenberg

@turpentinemedia